Ole Bornemann Bull

Ole Bornemann Bull , 1810-80, Norwegian violinist. After his debut in Paris (1832) he toured in Europe and in the United States, playing mainly his own compositions and Norwegian folk music. He founded a theater for national drama at Bergen (1849), and in 1852 he attempted to found a Norwegian settlement in Pennsylvania.

Bibliography: See biography by M. Smith (1943, repr. 1973).

Bull, Ole (Bornemann) (b Bergen, Norway, 1810; d Lysøen, Bergen, 1880). Norweg. violinist and composer. Taught by local musicians in Bergen. Went to Christiania 1828 to study theology, but failed exam. Became cond. of theatre orch. In 1831 met peasant fiddler who taught him slåtter (folk-dances). Went to Paris 1831, taking Hardanger fiddle (Norwegian peasant vn.). In Milan developed new method of holding vn. and made its bridge flatter and the bow longer and heavier. Created sensation with one of his concs. in Bologna, 1833. Thereafter, in emulation of Paganini, toured widely as virtuoso recitalist, having immense success in Paris, London and America. Convinced patriot, frequently played Scandinavian melodies, earning large sums and founding in USA in 1852 a Norweg. colony and in the capital of his own country a mus. conservatory (both of which schemes proved abortive). Wrote 2 vn. concs. Helped establish a nat. theatre in Bergen and to initiate careers of Ibsen, Bjørnson, and Grieg.